Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II accident near Van Nuys, CA
On July 21, 2017, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Van Nuys, CA. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 21, 2017
- Place
- Van Nuys, CA
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.160°N, 118.462°W
- NTSB ID
- 20170721X55655
Official records · WPR17LA159
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 21, 2017, at 1211 Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N3254E, landed hard during an autorotation near Van Nuys Airport (VNY), Van Nuys, California. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries, the three passengers sustained serious injuries, and the helicopter was substantially damaged during the landing. The helicopter was registered to and operated by National Helicopter Service and Engineering Company, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 revenue sightseeing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight departed Van Nuys about 1112. The three passengers and pilot boarded the helicopter at 1100 for what was to be a 1-hour tour around the Los Angeles area. The pilot reported that the tour was uneventful, and as they approached the airport for landing, he heard an unusual sound. He glanced down at the engine tachometer, and it was higher than normal, indicating above 110%. The pilot began manipulating the engine throttle to reduce power and bring the engine and rotor speeds into alignment, but the rotor RPM began to decay. He was concerned that the engine might overspeed if he adjusted the throttle higher, and presumed that there was likely an unrecoverable failure in the transmission system, so he initiated an autorotation. He stated that trees and power poles blocked his landing approach, and he therefore did not have sufficient speed or space to perform an adequate flare, and the helicopter landed hard. The helicopter came to rest on a street at an elevatio
Probable cause
An improper repair of the right magneto's tachometer and governor signal wire, which failed during cruise flight and initiated a simultaneous malfunction of both the engine tachometer and governor control system, which resulted in erroneous and contradictory information between the engine tachometer and main rotor tachometer that led the pilot to perform a forced landing. Contributing to the accid
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Browse: California · Robinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
